Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0094’

ABSTRACT

A new garden type  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘CIFZ0094’ particularly distinguished by its medium size plant with mound plant habit, medium to small sized decorative flowers with white flower color, and a natural season response early to mid-October.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Chrysanthemum x morifolium.

Varietal denomination: ‘CIFZ0094’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘CIFZ0094’.

‘CIFZ0094’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has a medium sized plant with mound plant habit, medium to small sized decorative flowers with white flower color, and a natural season response early to mid-October.

‘CIFZ0094’ originated from a cross made in November 2016 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. Seeds were sown in June 2017 in Gilroy, Calif. and ‘CIFZ0094’ was selected from the resulting population on Nov. 30, 2017 in Alva, Fla.

The female parent was variety ‘Yomildred’, U.S. Pat. No. 21,187

TABLE 1 Characteristics of the female parent, compared to ‘CIFZ0094’: Trait ‘CIFZ0094’ ‘Yomildred’ Natural response: 0.5 to 1 week slower 0.5 to 1 week faster Blackcloth response: Similar Similar Flower size: Smaller Larger Flower color: Similar Similar # flowers on plant: More flowers Less flowers Flower type: Similar Similar Plant size: Similar Similar Plant habit: Similar Similar Flower longevity: Similar Similar Plant strength: Similar Similar Flowering uniformity: Similar Similar

The male parent was an unnamed proprietary seedling ‘14-M470’, not patented.

TABLE 2 Characteristics of the male parent, compared to ‘CIFZ0094’: Trait ‘CIFZ0094’ ‘14-M470’ Natural response: 3 weeks slower 3 weeks faster Blackcloth response: 1.5 weeks slower 1.5 weeks faster Flower size: Similar Similar Flower color: White Yellow Flower type: Less disc florets More disc florets Plant size: Larger Smaller Plant habit: Similar Similar

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘CIFZ0094’ was accomplished when vegetative stem cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in January 2018 in Alva, Fla.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in January 2018 and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘CIFZ0094’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘CIFZ0094’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not yet been applied for. ‘CIFZ0094’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘CIFZ0094’ directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘CIFZ0094’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 a close view of flower of the new variety and in

FIG. 2 a flowering plant from an outdoor trial.

The aforementioned photographs: FIG. 1, as well as FIG. 2, were taken on Sep. 8, 2021 both showing a plant from the same blackcloth outdoor trial in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

These plants were about 13 weeks of age. One rooted cutting per pot had been planted in a 19 cm pot, not pinched in week 23, 2021 and black clothed from week 29. Plants started flowering the end of August 2021.

The measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in September 2021 on plants from the same outdoor blackcloth trial.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS) 2001.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘CIFZ0094’ AND TWO MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

TABLE 3 ‘Jasoda White’, U.S. Plant Pat. Trait ‘CIFZ0094’ No. 21,884 Natural response: Similar or ½ week Similar or ½ week faster slower Blackcloth response: 0.5 week faster 0.5 week slower Flower size: Larger Smaller Flower color: Similar Similar Flower type: Similar Similar Plant size: Shorter/Wider Taller/Thinner Plant habit: Mound Round Plant strength: More flexible Stiffer

TABLE 4 ‘Zanmulpine’, U.S. Plant Pat. Trait ‘CIFZ0094’ No. 30,154 Natural response: Similar Similar Blackcloth response: Similar Similar Flower size: Similar Similar Flower color: Creamier Whiter Flower type: Similar Similar Plant size: Similar Similar Plant habit: Similar Similar Flower longevity: Less damage from More damage from frost frost Plant strength: Similar Similar Flowering uniformity: Less uniform More uniform flowering flowering

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Herbaceous garden-type, stems             Upright and outwardly spreading, freely branching, strong             and moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height (above soil).—20 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—22 cm.         -   Plant width.—50 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—About 4 days at about 22°             C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—14-16 days at             22° C.         -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS N155B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 147A.         -   Immature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 137C.         -   Mature leaf, color, upper surface.—RHS 147A.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 137C.         -   Length.—8 cm.         -   Width.—4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate, with dist.inct lobes.         -   Base shape.—Attenuate.         -   Apex shape.—Abruptly acute.         -   Margin.—2-4 lobed.         -   Number of margin indentations.—Approximately 12.         -   Depth of margin indentations.—Medium.         -   Leaf length terminal lobe relative to total leaf             length.—Medium.         -   Leaf depth lower lateral sinus.—Medium.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Bifid hairs.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Bifid hairs.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 137B.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 137B.         -   Pattern of veining.—Palmate.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 137C.         -   Petiole length.—1.0-1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Bifid hairs.         -   Presence of stipules.—Yes.         -   If present, size of stipules.—Small, up to 0.2 cm long and             0.2 cm wide.         -   Color of stipule.—RHS 147A. -   Stem:     -   -   Quantity of main branches per plant.—11.         -   Color of stem.—RHS 146B.         -   Length of stem.—12.0-14.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—1.0-1.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Bifid hairs.         -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 146B.         -   Length of peduncle.—2.0-4.0 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—bifid hairs. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Compositae, solitary, semi-double type inflorescences             borne terminally above foliage, ligulate ray florets             arranged in whorls on a capitulum giving a semi-double             flower.         -   Quantity of short days to flowering (response             time).—Approximately 7 weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—310 with several small             buds developing.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 4.5             weeks from first color.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly spicy. -   Bud (when showing color):     -   -   Color.—RHS 2D.         -   Length.—0.9cm.         -   Width.—0.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblate. -   Immature inflorescence (at moment of opening):     -   -   Diameter.—2.1 cm.         -   Color of ray florets, upper surface.—RHS 155B on outer             whorls, 2B inner whorls.         -   Color of ray florets, lower surface.—RHS 155C. -   Mature inflorescence:     -   -   Diameter.—4.7 cm.         -   Depth.—2.0 cm.         -   Total diameter of disc.—0.2-0.6 cm.         -   Receptacle color.—RHS 147B.         -   Receptacle height.—0.5 cm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—1.6 cm.         -   Length of corolla tube.—0.4 cm. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Average quantity of florets.—190 in several whorls.         -   Color of florets, upper surface.—RHS 155B outer whorls, 2B             inner whorls.         -   Color lower surface.—RHS 155C.         -   Length.—1.4 cm.         -   Width/diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Apex shape.—Tridentate.         -   Base shape.—Tube.         -   Margin: entire.—Small incisions may be present at tip.         -   Margin: type of rolling.—Weakly involute.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Papillate.         -   Lower surface.—Papillate.         -   Ribs present.—Yes.         -   Number of keels.—1.         -   Profile at widest point.—Weakly concave.         -   Longitudinal axis shape.—Reflexing.         -   Longitudinal axis curvature strength.—Weak.         -   Corolla tube shape.—Flattened. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of disc florets.—Up to 30-45.         -   Width.—0.1 cm.         -   Length.—1.4 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 17A. -   Inflorescence (at moment of senescence):     -   -   Color of ray florets, upper surface.—RHS 155C.         -   Color of ray florets, lower surface.—RHS 155C. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Quantity.—20-25.         -   Color, upper surface.—RHS 147C.         -   Color, lower surface.—RHS 138D.         -   Length.—0.6 cm.         -   Width.—0.1-0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Canescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—One.         -   Length.—0.4 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 5D.         -   Style length.—0.3 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 5D.         -   Stigma shape.—Bi-parted.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 150D.         -   Ovary length.—0.2 cm.         -   Ovary width.—0.1 cm. -   Androecium:     -   -   Stamens.—1, found on only disc florets.         -   Color of filaments.—RHS 155D.         -   Length filaments.—0.2 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 17A.         -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.         -   Anther shape.—Oval to club shaped.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS 17A.         -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been determined to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date.         -   Hardiness.—Has not been determined to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0094’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 